The Centurio Interreg III C programme ended in December 2006. It involved 48 partner Regions from 22 European countries and worked on the basis of 3 key issues concerning regional development, under the supervision of the AER: sustainable quality tourism, environmental protection and sustainable economic development. Between 2004 and 2006, the programme received financial support from the EU's Interreg programme. This interregional platform provided partner Regions with an opportunity to exchange their experience.

The interregional co-operation structures have been changed for the new

programming period for 2007-2013, and are now considered part of the new European territorial co-operation policy, which is an EU objective in its own right.

The AER now aims to gather groups of regions (5 - 10) to work on projects focusing on two of the issues of the new EU interregional co-operation policy of specific importance for the Regions, i.e. innovation, and the knowledge and prevention of environmental risks.

The Centurio programme will also continue with its traditional mission of providing an opportunity for exchanges between civil servants and political leaders from the Regions of Europe.

Tribune on the 4th Centurio Conference in Valencia, 19-21 April 2006 "Innovative Public Private Partnerships: regional success models"

1985: The AER was created by 47 European Regions and 9 interregional organisations.

1990: The AER requested the creation of a body representing the Regions within the European Union and a separate regional representation within the Council of Europe.

Local and regional representation are not separated. Its members are designated by the EU Council at the proposal of member states.

Political groupings play an important role within the CoR, particularly in terms of the composition of commissions.

This body includes regional and local authorities from the wider Europe. A separate Chamber of Regions was created. Its delegates are designated by governments.

Although political groups do not play as significant a role as within the CoR, the CLRAE is organised on the basis of national delegations and political groups.

The unanimous objective of its members is the promotion of regionalism in Europe. The association is independent, particularly in financial terms, enabling its members to adopt strong positions, and focus on any political issues it may consider appropriate.

This body advises the Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on all issues relating to local and regional policy.

The three organisms are mutually complementary, as they all have the same objective: making the voice of the Regions heard in Europe and increasing their participation in the European Institutions.

The creation of the CoR and the CLRAE proves the awareness and the acceptance by all the European institutions of the importance of the principle of subsidiarity and the need to include the regional level in the European decision-making process. The CoR, the CLRAE and the AER may support each other to ensure the implementation of their respective initiatives.

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